Although Bob Schneider was the great, underrated drummer for Semi-Twang and The R&B Cadets -- among other local bands -- he's not the Bob Schneider headlining Shank Hall on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m.
This Schneider is well known to fans of alternative Americana folk-rock for the eight full-length discs that have helped him nab numerous Austin Songwriter of the Year awards.
Schneider is currently touring in support of his upcoming ninth studio disc, which in his own words is a "multifarious brand of rock ‘n' funk ‘n' folk ‘n' rap." The CD, tentatively called, "Introducing Bob Schneider" is due at the start of 2009.
"I'm making an album with the quirkiness and playfulness of ‘Lonelyland' and ‘I'm Good Now,' with just a hint of the darkness," he says, "songs that showcase my songwriting and my singing and songs that will translate to playing live."
Schneider promises to preview the new material -- two of the disc's songs ("Tarantula" and "Bombananza") are already live favorites -- at the Shank Hall show.
"We're looking forward to playing these new ones in front of an audience," says Schneider, who is known for his fun, long -- sometimes pushing three hours -- shows.
Tickets for the show are $20 and Amie Miriello opens.
Two nights earlier, The Gourds play at Shank Hall at 8 p.m. got $15. Patrick Sweany opens.
Some other shows in coming days include:
Conor Oberst (aka Bright Eyes) and The Mystic Valley Band is at Turner Hall on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22.50. Let's hope Oberst is happier onstage this time ‘round. Girl Talk hits Turner on Nov. 4 with The Death Set and CX KiDTRONiK. The Mighty Underdogs -- featuring Blackalicious' Gift of Gab plus Lateef the Truthspeaker and Headnotic -- play there on Nov. 9.
Meanwhile, living blues guitar legend B.B. King plays the Riverside on Friday, Oct. 31st at 8. Atmosphere kicks off November at the Riverside on Saturday, Nov. 1 for $20. David Crosby and Graham Nash play the theater on Monday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $49.50. Dylan is there on Nov. 6, too, but that show has long since sold out.
Beastie Boys rock the vote at the U.S. Cellular Arena on Sunday, Nov. 2 with Ben Harper, Tenacious D and Crosby & Nash (two nights in a row?!).
Senses Fail -- which released its third full-length disc, "Life is Not a Waiting Room," in October performs at The Rave on Wednesday, Nov. 6 with Foxy Shazam and Dance Gavin Dance. Tickets are $14.
Slightly Stoopid and Outlaw Nation play in the same building on the same night for $20.50 and $25.50.
Kings of Leon, of course, are there the night before with We Are Scientists and The Whigs.
Blue Note Records labelmates Amos Lee and Priscilla Ahn team up for a Pabst Theater gig on Saturday, Nov. 8. Lee is out on the road in support of his Don Was-produced third disc, "Last Days at the Lodge," which continues Lee's gospel-, soul-, folk- and blues-paved road.
Meanwhile, Ahn recently released her soft-spoken and intimate label debut, "A Good Day," produced by Joey Waronker. Tickets are $25.
Fiddler Carrie Rodriguez plays a lower level show at The Pabst the night before for just $10.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
